Roger Goodell defends Deshaun Watson suspension appeal, cites evidence of 'predatory behavior'

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the decision to appeal the six-game suspension given to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson by an independent disciplinary officer last week.

Goodell said Tuesday he believed the evidence called for a full-year ban instead of just 33% of the regular season. He said retired Judge Sue L. Robinson was "very clear" about the facts presented in her 16-page report in which she sued "egregious" and "predatory" to describe Watson’s actions.

"Because we’ve seen the evidence," Goodell said when asked why the NFL was seeking a longer punishment. "She (Robinson) was very clear about the evidence. She reinforced the evidence, that there was multiple violations here, and they were egregious, and that it was predatory behavior.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media after the close of the NFL owners' meeting on March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

"Those were always things we felt was really important for us to address and in a way that’s responsible."

Goodell cited the collective bargaining agreement for empowering the league to seek further discipline.

"Either party could certainly challenge and appeal that and that was something that we felt was our right to do as well as NFLPA," he said. "So we decided it was the right thing to do."

Goodell appointed Peter C. Harvey, a former New Jersey attorney general, to handle the appeal. Goodell said he did not have a timeline of when Harvey would make the decision, but it was expected to be "expedited."

Watson faced 24 civil lawsuits accusing